The DA has written to the speaker regarding the status of our written questions on the Polokwane water crisis submitted on 21 June 2022.
Extended parts of Polokwane have been without a constant supply of water for the last 3 weeks.
Yesterday, an educational visit by schools to a local business, Zanna’s Bird and Reptile Park in Ward 22, has left the business owner with an unsanitary situation and unfunctional restrooms, as they have been without water for 3 weeks. (See photo here, here, here and here)
This is not an isolated incident as many residents, schools, businesses have been without water for weeks.
Residents who cannot afford water tanks are left destitute and without any option but to wait for Polokwane Municipality to deliver water with a couple of water trucks.
Businesses in Polokwane do not receive any water through water trucks and there is no plan to address their plight.
Amidst the persistent water crisis, the Executive Mayor, John Mpe, is adamant to obtain Metro status for Polokwane.
Metro status, in our view, is a pipe dream if there is not sufficient and a constant supply of water for residents and businesses. Development needs water.
The DA in Polokwane has the past few months submitted written questions with regards to the water problems of Polokwane.
These have still not been answered, despite being tabled by the Speaker of Council, Wilhelmina Modiba.
This lack of transparency leads the DA to believe that there is no plan to address the water challenges.
The desperate plight of residents of Polokwane has once again showcased the resilience of our community as residents took hands to assist each other with access to private borehole water.
The Constitution affords everyone the right to access to sufficient water and the DA in Polokwane will soon announce further steps we will be taking to escalate the continued water supply and distribution problems of Polokwane.